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“Well, there’ll be plenty of politicians tonight. Along with a lot of celebrities, and pretty much all the inhabitants of Angel Sands. If you’re looking for your very own JFK…”
Harper laughed. “I don’t need any more complications in my life. Let me sort out my job first, then I’ll look for a guy.”
She slipped her arm through Caitie’s as they reached the iron-and-glass oversized doors leading into the main foyer. A bellhop, perfectly dressed in light blue livery, pulled them open and gestured them in. “Good afternoon, ladies. Welcome to the Silver Sands Resort. Please come inside”
As they stepped through the doors the sound of a string quartet echoed out. The four musicians were in the corner, perfectly dressed in black tuxedos and dresses, looking every bit as glamorous as their surroundings.
And as the sweet melody caressed Harper’s ears, she felt all her worries melt away. “Thank you,” she whispered to her friend, pulling her in for a hug. “This is perfect.”
Caitie hugged her back. “It’s a pleasure. I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a night neither of us will forget.”
* * *
By the time Harper had finished in the salon, it was time to get dressed. When she got back to the bungalow nestled in the trees, she found Caitie waiting for her with a glass of champagne, along with her sister-in-law, Ember, and her friends, Ally and Brooke.
She’d met them before when she’d visited Angel Sands, and they welcomed her like old friends, giving her hugs, commiserating with her about her job – and most importantly – making sure her wine was topped up.
“Another job will come along,” Ember told her. Caitie’s sister-in-law was full of warmth – made warmer still by her pregnancy. She was almost four months along and glowing with it. “Look at Ally. When her dad sold the beach café she thought she was out of a job. But then she met her new boss and fell in love. One door might have slammed shut, but the new door was so much better.”
“You make it sound so easy,” Ally said, raising her eyebrows. “It wasn’t quite that simple. It took a broken ankle and having to stay with him and his daughter for weeks before I realized there was something between us.”
Ember rolled her eyes. “She’s so unromantic. But all I’m trying to say is that when we reach our rock bottom the only way is up; and quite often the climb is a beautiful one.”
Harper smiled at her. “I hope so. It has to be better than the hole I’m in now.”
“You’re not supposed to be thinking about that tonight,” Caitie reminded her, topping up her champagne glass. “Tonight is about glamor and beauty. Let’s not talk about holes.”
Brooke’s phone buzzed. “It’s also about actually getting to the party,” she said, her lips curling up as she glanced at her screen. “Aiden wants to know where we all are. The guys are getting jittery.”
A moment later, Ally’s phone buzzed, followed by Ember’s and Caitie’s, and they all started to laugh. “I think that’s our signal,” Ally said, shaking her head with amusement. “Let’s head over before they send out a search party.”
Ten minutes later they were walking into the ballroom of the Silver Sands Resort. It was already full-to-bursting with glamorous guests; the women clad in sparkling dresses, the men dashing in their jet black dinner suits. On the stage an old-fashioned swing band was playing, the singer crooning softly into the microphone as a few couples danced in the center of the room. As they made their way across the shining tiled floor, Harper recognized a few faces. Actors and politicians, mingled with reality stars and sports personalities. The buzz in the room was electric, and she couldn’t help but feel it too.
“There they are,” Brooke said, pointing over at a group of ridiculously handsome men. Harper had to look twice – she knew Breck and his friends quite well, but she’d never seen them dressed up for an event like this before. In their jeans and t-shirts they were good looking enough, but dressed in black suits they were glorious. And attracting a lot of female glances.
“Hey baby,” Breck said, sliding his arm around Caitie’s waist. “What do you think?”
“It’s amazing.” Caitie grinned and brushed her lips across his cheek. “You did a wonderful job.”
As the contractor responsible for renovating the resort, Breck had worked tirelessly to hit the deadlines the owners had set. One of who was standing next to him – Aiden, Brooke’s fiancé.
Harper watched as her friends embraced their men. Ally and her boyfriend, Nate – the gorgeous owner of the Déjà Brew chain, and father to a teenage daughter, laughed together, as Lucas, Caitie’s firefighter brother, swept Ember into a big hug. Aiden ordered them all another round of drinks, then kissed Brooke and told her how beautiful she looked.
It was impossible not to smile at their obvious adoration for each other. But Harper’s heart clenched a little, too. Because that feeling of belonging with someone, of always having them by your side, it was something she’d never have.
Maybe she never would.
“Is this where the single people are supposed to stand?” a deep voice asked her.
She turned with a grin to see Griffin and Jack standing next to her. Griff was the captain of the whaling ship that sailed daily in the summer from Paxton’s Pier, and along with Jackson, an owner of an up-and-coming tech company, they’d grown up with Lucas and Breck, and were still their best friends.
“Griff.” Harper smiled at him. “I didn’t recognize you. You scrub up well.” It was an understatement. Griff usually preferred to dress down, and was known to have a very distant relationship with his razor. He was the most laid-back person Harper had ever met. When he wasn’t working, he was usually surfing. The man lived for the Pacific Ocean.
Griff looked down at his dinner suit. “Thanks. I asked if I could get away with jeans, but apparently the answer was no.”
“Brooke was just worried about you smelling of fish,” Jackson said, grinning at him. “And anyway, you’ve only worn that suit at Lucas and Ember’s wedding before. Now you’re getting your money’s worth.”
Griff pulled at the collar. “Yeah, and I’m counting down the hours until I can get out of it.”
